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B'town nips PHS; NAC, Peru win in o'time/Page 15 The Hometown Newspaper of Clinton, Essex, Franklin Counties Vol. 103 - No. 113 © Copyist J995, ProM-Republicu Plattsburgh, NY 12901, Wednesday, December 13,1995 Suggested Price: 50 c 24 Pages Going to Bosnia AP Photo U.S. Army Spec. Brian Wilson of Curry, Ala., hugs his wife.Jeary, before boarding a train at Coleman Barracks in Mannheim, Germany. The train, with 10 members of the 95th MP battalion on board, left for Hungary as part of the U.S. contribution to NATO forces in Bosnia. ' - • • Serbs release French pilots By WILLIAM J. KOLE Associated Press Writer-. •_• PARIS (AP) — Amid tears and laughter,, two French airmen shot down over Bosnia arrived in the arms of their families Tues- day after nearly four months as captives of the Bosnian Serbs. The return of the pilots, whose Mirage 2000 was downed while conducting NATO air strikes in August, ended a 104-day ordeal that had threatened to disrupt the signing of the Bosnian peace accord in Paris on Thursday. Their first breaths back on French soil rose as frosty plumes caught in the floodlights of national TV. \Today with all the French I pay homage to their courage,\ President Jacques Chirac said in a live television address shortly be- fore he greeted the men.with a handshake. It was a touching scene that warmed the hearts of a nation embittered by a nearly 3-week-long labor strike: \Les pilotes\ were, finally home, and in time for Christmas. In Washington, President Clinton told France's new Ambassador Francois Bujon \to convey to President Chirac the joy of all Americans that these pilots were free.\ French and U.S. officials denied rumors that they had cut a deal with the Bosnian Serbs for the men's release. \No deal at all,\ said Chirac spokesman Jerome Peyrat. Sources in Pale, the Bosnian Serb stronghold, said that with the pilots freed, rebel leader Radovan Karadzic expected to attend the signing of the peace accord in Paris, where he would lobby against a pro- vision in the treaty-that reunites the capi- tal under Muslim-Croat, rule. But White House press secretary Mike McCurry said that if Karadzic or Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic — both suspected war criminals — arrived in Paris, \they Would be under arrest.\ France had waged an aggressive diplo- matic battle to obtain the pilots' release, warning the Bosnian Serbs last Friday that they would be \hit\ if the pilots were not freed by midnight Sunday. The threat was vague, but seemed to imply a possible military strike. NATO had organized several unsuc- cessful search-and-rescue operations, and for a time no one knew if the men were Continued Page 12 Flag burning at issue By MARCY GORDON Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - By only three votes, the Senate on Tuesday killed a constitutional amendment giving Congress authority to outlaw flag burning and other forms of desecration against Old Glory. The defeat was jarring to sup- porters, who \had expressed con- fidence in Senate approval. The House last June approved, 312- 120, a broader amendment that gives both Congress and the states the power to determine what is unlawful desecration of the American flag. The 63-36 Senate vote Tues- day was three votes shy of the two-thirds majority needed for an amendment to the Constitution. \It unraveled this morning be- fore our eyes,\ said Susan Ridge, spokeswoman for the Citizens. Flag Alliance, a coalition of about 100 groups lobbying for the amendment. \This is a disap- pointment.\ Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, il-Utah, said President Clinton's opposi- tion to what proponents hoped would be the 28th Amendment to the Constitution was the decisive factor in its defeat. A few hours before the vote, the White House said Clinton would be open to a federal law banning desecration of the flag, but that he opposes a constitu- tional amendment that would alter the Bill of Rights. \The guys in the powdered wigs had it about right in 1792,\ press secre- tary Mike McCurry said. Said Hatch: \This amendment is not going to go away.\ But he also said he did not think it could pass the Senate as the chamber is now constituted — 53 Republicans, 46 Democrats, one vacancy — and said it likely will have to await action.by the new Congress that would be sworn in after next year's elections. * Ridge said the Citizens Fla Alliance, which includes the American Legion, would concen- trate its efforts on the 1996 elec- tion campaigns by talking up the amendment to candidates and releasing public opinion surveys •showing support. \See you in November,\ the al- liance said in a terse, four-word message. Forty-nine states — all but Vermont — have passed resolu- tions urging Congress to support the amendment. Some opponents who had charged that the amendment would trample free speech rights under the First Amendment con- tinued to express concern, despite its defeat. . \Although today's vote is a vindication for free speech, the fact that it was so-close is deeply troubling,\ said Ira Glasser, ex- ecutive director of the American ' Civil Liberties Union. \Have our political leaders forgotten that the First Amendment was designed precisely to protect un- popular speech?\ Before the final vote, the Senate rejected, 71-28, a substitute version proposed by Sen. Mitch McConnell of Ken- tucky, the leading Republican critic of a constitutional amend- ment. The substitute would have barred desecration by legislative means rather than changing the Constitution. The Senate also defeated, 93-5, language proposed by Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., that would . remove the word \desecration which he said was too subjective, and empower Congress to bar the burning, mutilation or trampling of the flag, regardless of intent. Quebec fears may help fill Champlain industrial park By RICHARD C. TEN WOLDE Staff Writer CHAMPLAIN - The Cham- plain Industrial Park's second building is going up. The Clinton County Area De- velopment Corporation, which developed the land with Cham- plain Local Development Cor- poration, is constructing its..jawn building and will then attract te- nants to the 40,000-square-foot structure. But the developers said the number of jobs brought to the Northern Tier by the hew build- ing depends on the potential te- nants' industries. . The facility can be rented to two companies or one, like CCAD's building in Plattsburgh. Capital City Distribution leases the Plattsburgh site, employing about 60 full- and part-time workers. \There's a lot of interest from Canadian companies that want to locate near the border,\ said Jerry Kelly,.president of CCAD. \We're looking at hopefully br- inging an economic impact for the Northern Tier and the coun- ty.\ The new building could bring jobs, which .in turn could fuel local economies and a larger tax base. Companies using the facili- WEATHER Mostly sunny. High around Variable wind 5 to 10 mph. Bridge v W$& Business.,. ^..vi.^ Classified .20*24 Comics, Landers .18 Editorial; 4 Entertainment 10 Seniors 6,7 Public Record 8,9 Sports 14-17,19 Weather 12 t s 5 • • . '••• •>,* -; • t - is^fcs ®m- ^XZit/'M- Dec. 13 12 shopping days to Christmas N.Y. Lottery: 7-3-2, 'Pick 4': 9-4-3-0, Tafife 5: 12;27-34-37-38. \. Pilck10: 11 -14-17-19-23-3b-3S-38r40-44-49-51 '52-56-57-61 -69-72-77-80 New Englanid: 'Pick 3*: 3-7-1. 'Pick 4': 7-9-3-2. f H-State Cash? 6-7-9-18-26 and Jack, ty might also bring secondary jobs at restaurants, customs brokers or other businesses. Champlain's 200-acre park, which already is home to a beer distribution center, now starts on a long road of developing the property. It took about 30 years to* bring Pittsburgh's land to 80 percent of capacity, with 100 acres out of 126 occupied. The CCAD\ irtsnfident the Plattsburgh property will fill in the next two years with Cana- dian companies fleeing Quebec's instability. \(The Champlain park) is in the crawling stage now, but we will soon walk and then run,\ said County Legislator John Zurlo, who represents Cham- plain. The Molson Beer distributor, Champlain Buffalo Distribution Group, opened in November and will employ about 55 when it reaches full operation. ' To maximize the Champlain property's economic potential, CCAD 'applied to the National Foreign Trade Zone Board to designate the park as a Foreign Trade Zone. Kelly said he expects approval by the end of the year. A trade zone, like the Platt- sburgh site, is an enticement to Canadian companies wanting to expand into the U.S. Foreign companies within a zone can import goods and export finished products without paying duties, unless the sale is made to American buyers. Jules Trahan, president of Champlain's Local Development Corporation, said his group has worked for about eight years promoting the park. \We had the land, and it's a gold mine, but we had no shovel to dig with,\ Trahan said. So they called on the experi- enced CCAD to help develop the land, he added. \It's been a long haul, but we're now making progress.\ Franklin County 1996 taxes up 8.81 percent By DEE BROWN Staff Writer ftl l ADOPTED TAX RATES MALONE - Franklin County tax bills will go up 8.81 percent in 1996, but it could have been worse. The initial proposed in- crease was 16 percent. Legislators approved the 1996 spending package Tuesday by a 6 to 1 margin. District 1 Legislator Mark Wells, R-Fort Covington voted against it, while District 5 Legislator Ray Susice, D-St. Regis Falls, and District 3 Legislator Andy Barney, D-North Bangor, said they voted yes reluctantly. Equalization . fcg.tes — tables used to assess:;pMper.ties at close to theifc achM ittpjfcet value — were also ap^rdvetHbjf the board. The '96 bu4|$t totals $52,464.,6;03, which it/down from $55,395,031 this.y'SSr, District 6 Legislator Paul Mafburij •R-TuppW Lake, said tax This chart shows Franklin County 1996 adopted proper ty-tax assessments, with the town share of the, county levy listed first, followed by t the rate per $1,000 ( of assess men! 5 1 ' - - ty Altamont Bangor. Bellmont . Bombay .. 4 Brandon i Brighton « Burke* v $1016354 . $181838 . .$330492 .< $ioe ( o45 $ 52^47 .$443,263 .$117799 \ $2755 t $8,838 $453 $80 56 $4 67 $514 $7630 Chateaugay Constable Dickinson Duane Fdrt Covington FVatikhn Harrietstown Malone Moira Safita Clara Waverly Westville Total to be $7 022 074 1995) $183,722 $109,906 $ 77,520 $105,147 $128,563 $441,485 $1,244,984 $1,122,544 $187,002 $856,486 $173,378 5142,998 raised by $65.96 $24.44 $85.30 $4.80 $30.63 $4.84 $ 3.62 $ 4.54 $70,34 ' $47.95 $83.67 $52.13 taxes: (8 8 percent more than rates per $1,000 may look disproportionate across the coun- ty, but they are actually within a few dollars, of each other in almost every town because of the equalization rates. In Altamont, a person with a $50,000 home will pay about $213, or roughly taxes for 1996. $18 more in Maroun said legislators are exploring several areas to bring the budget into perspective. \We're making moves this year Continued Page 12 North Country town- by-town listings. PAGE 5 State plans bridge, road work in area ALBANY - Millions of dollars worth of road- construction projects are planned for the North Country next year. The state Department of Transpor- tation releas- ed its list of 1996 projects,- which in- cludes in- creases in CHIPS fun- ding for every community in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties. Here's a look at bridge and highway projects in our area costing $5 million to $10 million: Town of Plattsburgh: Replace two 1-87 bridges over Route 3 and widen one-eighth mile of Route 3 under 1-87. Here are state Depart- ment of Transportation bridge and highway pro- . jects costing less than $5 milli'on: Town of Lewis: Replace- ment of Route 9 bridge over Spruce Mill Creek. Town of Champlain: Recondition and preserve 5,5 miles of Route 9B from Chazy to Rouses Point.- • Franklin County: Reconstruct 2.9 miles of Route 37 between Malone and Fort Covington. - Marc Violette Ottaway News Service .\'I
